Real vs fake denso plugs w/pics

Ok I will try to make this simple. If you take your owners manual and get the right spark plug number (they could list 2 NGK and Denso) (both are OEM) and go to a reputable auto parts store and get the exact number and no substitutions you should not have any problems. I have been buying spark plugs for Toyotas for years and have never had any issues. As long as you stick with the numbers in your book you should not have any problems (not buying Online fleabay or Amazon). I only ran into one problem as on of my rigs needed plugs and both numbers could not be found at the normal parts stores. They kept trying to sell me a substitute but I won't do that, so I had to go to the dealer, but the plugs at the dealer were about a buck more, and they had the right number. I have never had any misfire from any plugs I have purchased from Napa or any other reputable auto store as long as the plug number from the owners manual is purchased only. Don't go for the cross reference. You will have problems every time. There are some things that need to be purchased from the dealer but plugs if bought from a good parts store should work just fine and if they don't I would not buy them from that store any longer. Sounds like the online plugs with the same number are fake as most have said. It is sad that you can't trust Fleabay or Amazon for these items.

Here is a little side note: I bought a new car from Toyota (plugs never touched, I do all my own routine maint.) and when it was time for plugs I found that half were Denso and half were NGK. Talk about spreading the wealth. But they were the right number plugs per brand and never had any misfires. They were just plain worn out.

 

My 2006 Tacoma V6 came with half NGK and half Denso plugs too. From factory, I opted for NGK all way around when I started changing them out.

 

They replied to this with Covid

 

Good info

 

Had something similar to this happen to me about 10-12 years ago on a Land Cruiser 90 Series back in my Country. But in my case the fake plugs were purchased at a Toyota dealership (third world problems).

One of the tips broke inside the engine and car started to jump like a wild horse. Long story sort, it didn't cause severe or fatal damage but since that day some bluish smoke started to come out of the exhaust (specially on downhills without accelerating and the engine started to "drink" a qt of oil between changes,

Once replaced the "fakeness" of the spark pulgs bought at the dealer was obvious. Still own the LC (manual transmision), didn't notice any other issues. People said that the spark plug tip migh have bent a valve, or scratched the cylinder, tip was also never recovered, seemed like the engine swallowed it. IDK.

 

I have about 20k on my ebay plugs I did buy from a Toyota dealership ebay store though, so I expect tem to last the duration.

 

All the 1GR-FE engines in the Tacoma came this way from Toyota. Never got an answer from the Toyota rep when asked why they did this.

 

Haven’t bought anything from eBay for around 10 years. Too much fake stuff

 

Rock auto is the dollar general of car parts I just got some crappy stuff from them and an order for halfway to me and turned around for incomplete address I have mine on autofill. Was their fault…. I needed them parts2 days ago and still aint refunded and there is nooooooo customer service! What’s one to do?????

 

I have not gotten fake parts from them, but did get a MAF the did not work. They have 0 customer service & when I could get nowhere my bank refunded the money.

 

Now it’s ball joints …. I can’t deal fix one things for another to go bad it’s like a carousel of madness! lol I love my yota tho 316000 miles n starts right up

 

So when bought the online ones were they from a Toyota dealer or who knows who ebay seller?

I buy online only from dealers and many sell rather discounted on Amazon or ebay. Never had any issues with fake stuff but again it comes from a dealership somewhere in the USA. Luck all.